Pokémon: The Warriors of Light

by Soulless Suicune

After twelve years, Aiden has reached the Pokemon Championship, but not all is well. The Warriors of Light, an organization obsessed with the mythological third typing it still out there and who murdered his brother, is still out there. Even after what he thought was their defeat at Olivine City, their power and influence grows.

Aiden I

Aiden's chest pounded as he stepped inside the port. After twelve long years, he was finally here—in the Pokémon World Championship. Salty sea air mingled with the ocean of trainers and spectators, making the moment all the more surreal. He sat on a simple bench outside a diner, the weight of his worries, his insecurities, and the sense of triumph pressing down on him.

Zora sat beside him. He turned and offered her a grin that failed to show his true elation. A zorua who, against the odds, became a pokémon trainer alongside him, Zora preferred human form. Pale blue eyes and black hair, he couldn't help but let his stare linger over her.

"Well, are you coming?" she asked, excited voice subdued.

"Yeah," Aiden said, glancing at a young boy chatting with his parents at a nearby table. They enjoyed a substantial helping of curry and mouth-watering ice cream. "Can we take this in a little longer?"

She leaned back, smiling into the sun beating off her face. "We'll have weeks to bask in this. Come on!" She tugged his arm and pulled him to his feet. "We need to hurry to the tunnels. We don't want to be late."

She did have a point. Both the terrifying prospect of being the center of attention as the crowd cheered for him and his fellow trainers and the sheer delight of the occasion made him jittery. So many people and their pokémon, each of them as strong, if not stronger, than himself and Zora.

"Of course. Let's go." He grabbed her hand and hurried off, causing a huff from beside him. He stopped a moment later. "Is something wrong?" She was excitable as ever, but he heard the small edge to her voice, saw the slight uncertain movement in her eyes as they lingered over one of the pokéballs on his belt.

"You know."

Aiden's hand shielded the ball, a protective cocoon to shelter the trembling creature within. "She's safe now."

Zora went still, her illusion flickering. "But the Warriors are still out there."

His voice went soft. "We beat them at Olivine City. The league finally sees them as a threat. We can rest, Zora. For the first time in twelve years we don't have to worry." Years after his older brother's death Aiden felt the stab of grief daily. Five years later he might finally have a chance to sleep in peace.

She faced him, a frown twisting across her face. "You don't believe that, do you?"

"I want to."

He was saved further response when a blur of blond hair latched onto him and shirked, "Aiden! Zora!" Kylie peeled herself off him before enveloping Zora in a similar hug. "I'm glad I found you two before the ceremony began. Come on." She gestured for them to follow her.

Aiden darted after her, pointedly avoiding Zora's gaze. The conversation could wait. They won. No need to worry any more. Such thoughts didn't help, as his mind went straight back to Olivine and the battle in the air, sea, and land, of the blood in the ocean and the tortured, twisted pokémon corrupted by the Third Typing, a sort of remnant of the time pokémon had a third or second typing as proposed by a minority of scientists.

No. They won. They claimed victory. He swallowed, forcing himself to focus on his sense of accomplishment, and not dwell over Prion, the Zapdos unleashed upon Olivine and who he was forced to capture.

"So, Kylie," he said, smiling at her. "No Tyler?"

She huffed. "No. He would have made it if some pompous asshole didn't beat him in the quarter finals of the Lilly of the Valley Conference. I beat said asshole so it all worked out. One last rival for you to worry about."

Aiden allowed a cocky smirk to cross his lips. "I have you and Zora beat."

"Un-huh."

He smiled at her good natured ribbing. Truth be told, of the hundreds of participants, Aiden numbered in the bottom twenty while Zora ranked in the top thirty. He wasn't certain about Kylie's ranking but he tried not to let such details bother him. He still made it here and numbered amongst the best trainers in the world.

"So Zora," Kylie said, turning toward her, walking backward as they made way for the tunnels. "Any idea on what pokémon you'll use for your first round?"

"I'm set already. You?"

"Of course. At least one of them. I always use Cleftca. Only lost once." She gave Zora a playful glare.

The roar of the tunnel blotted out their conversation. Over three hundred trainers from across the world. A young man no older than himself boasted nearby, his friends laughing as they made their way to the front of the crowd. Voices chimed, causing a cacophony of noise that sent shivers down his spine. This was it. In a matter of minutes his dream would become a reality. He could relax and train, no more worries of the Warriors of Light seeking his, his family, and his pokémon's deaths.

And yet the sounds of excited men and women gave him pause. His thoughts shifted once more to that small figure, that tiny pokémon in her pokéball. EE would be trembling no doubt, fearful of the constant stream of noise. Between keeping EE in his or Zora's hotel room, locking her pokéball, or having her in an unlocked one they decided the latter to be the kindest option. At least EE knew Aiden was with her, and she didn't have to deal with the cramped, oppressiveness of a locked pokéball.

Aiden wandered in the tunnel, unsure of which part of the swarm of trainers Zora and Kylie had meshed into. He glanced back, ready to find them when the rush came. He braced himself, hearing the announcers call just after his fellow trainers flooded outward. A few shoved him toward the front to get by him. Aiden didn't mind.

In those blessed few seconds he stepped into the blinding light of the arena. The vast crowd cheered around him, joining the cacophony of noise as trainers awaited Mr. Goodshow's command. Atop the round arena walls waved the flags of each region, their banners high and mighty and casting long shadows against the arena ground.

"Trainers," Mr. Goodshow said, his voice booming. "Welcome to the Pokémon World Championship! Now, before our spectators, release the partners who helped bring you here."

Aiden didn't hesitate to grab the second of the two pokéballs. From the red beam came Ember, the radiant ninetales his parents gifted him on his eleventh birthday. For twelve years the two had traveled with each other.

He only wished Ember watched him with the same sense of affection she had when younger.

"Took you long enough," she said, her soft voice cold.

"I didn't have a choice."

She knew he didn't have a choice. If up to him he'd have every pokémon who wanted to be here with him, outside their pokéballs and basking in the glory. She knew the league permitted trainers to only carry one pokémon with them, only releasing them in certain designated areas. This wasn't his fault. A fact Ember knew quite well.

As for EE's pokéball well, that was special occasion, one Professor Oak had convinced the league to allow. League staff were not happy.

"At least try to show me some decency. This isn't my fault, Ember. None of it is."

She sat down, golden fur shining. "Oh? And what did you say after the Warriors of Light injected me? That it was useful."

"It is useful. And you know damn well what I meant." They were starting to draw attention. Lovely. "Contrary to the opinion you suddenly gained, not every human exploits pokémon."

"Never said you did. And be quiet. We're drawing a crowd. We're here to celebrate, aren't we?"

Aiden knew he shouldn't have said more. He should have gone silent or apologized. Instead, he said, "And who's fault is that?"

Ember ignored him, her gaze focused on the grand opening. The crowd roared, unleashing their excitement as pokémon swarmed around them. A small herd of venusaur marched into the center. A storm of petals and greenery erupted from the earth, creating a dazzling display and the aroma of nature. A flock of charizards flew overhead, unleashing a majestic fire show while a troop of blastoise stormed onto the grounds. Their hydro pumps meshed with the elaborate flames, crafting a spectacular array of shimmering water and steam.

"You have to admit Ember, this is a dazzling display."

Aiden glanced over to see Bruiser, the Nidoking who joined Zora a week or so after their journey began. Strange to think how the once timid nidoran had evolved over their dozen years together, both physically and emotionally.

"You shined your hide?" Aiden said, taking note of the glistening dark violet skin along with the translator around his neck. Unlike Ember, Bruiser never learned how to speak the human tongue.

"Of course. One needs to look his best for the ladies." Bruiser winked in the direction of a nidoqueen.

"Really, Bruiser?" Aiden could practically hear the shake of Zora's head in her words "Somethings never change."

Aiden smiled and turned his attention back to the show. With their vines, the venusaurs had crafted an intricate display of the trophy, along with several pokémon from each region around its edges. The charizards lit the tip of the trophy. Below them, blastoise added a constant stream of water to complete the unity of the three types. "Ember's in one of her moods."

The ninetales glared at him. Aiden shrugged. Zora's amusement died to a look of annoyance. "Have you two tried not antagonizing each other?"

"She started it." Aiden clamped his jaws shut the moment the childish phrase left his lips.

"What happened?" Kylie asked. Alongside her, much to Aiden's surprise, did not walk a clefable. Instead, a rather proud mudsdale stood beside her, its mane rippling in the wind. Regal and tall, the mudsdale paid no mind to those around it.

"Not your business, Kylie." Aiden growled and stomped off to stand beside Ember. One of them at least had to act like the two were partners and Ember wasn't some random ninetales who wandered off.

"Not bad, is it," Ember said, watching as the venusaurs, blastoise, and charizards bowed and made their departure.

Aiden resisted the urge to snap at her. Instead, he felt a warm, genuine smile cross his face. "Yeah. It's great. To think we made it here after so many years."

She nodded, tails twitching as she studied the display before them. Mr. Goodshow spoke again, and the trainers began their march around the arena.

"Well, should we go?" Aiden asked.

Ember stood, her nine tails flaring as she made her fur shine with psychic energy. "Yes. Let's go."

They joined Zora, Bruiser, Kylie, and the mudsdale near the head of the crowd. Seconds later came the deafening cheer. Barely audible in the excitement came the announcer, rattling off the trainers and their list of accomplishments.

Sometime after the announcement of his and Kylie's name came a name that made Aiden stumble. Ember's tails flared to keep him upright. Don't look back. Don't look back. Aiden repeated the mantra, his heart racing in a failed attempt to quell his emotions. As they walked he felt the weight of each step as they moved forward. Even now he heard the faint echoes of Seth's mocking voice.

"It's okay, Aiden," Zora said. Ember, Bruiser, and Kylie watched him, concern plastered across their faces. "You're as great of a trainer as he is. And a much better person."

"Yeah." His voice drifted off and he refused to speak more of the matter. Hot and brittle he forced his resentment down and focused once more on the excitement of the arena and the humans and pokémon around him.

The announcer continued, finishing on Zora. "And let's not forget Zora, our brave little Zorua, making her mark among the human trainers! It's almost like a fairytale. A pokémon striving to compete at the human level. Quite charming."

Aiden took her hand, squeezing it gently. Zora's grip tightened, her pale blue eyes flashing with hurt and anger at the veiled insult.

"Blah, blah, blah, we can kick your ass any day," Bruiser said.

"Bruiser!"

The nidoking gave Zora a wink. "What? You know that was uncalled for."

She gave an uncomfortable huff. "Yeah, but please. Let's focus on this."

Even so, Bruiser stood closer to Zora. Before they reentered the tunnel, Aiden swept the crowd, searching out his parents who he knew would be there. Jarred's murder affected them all, but they still came to support Aiden. Hopefully that horrible part of their lives would be behind them.

Back at the tunnels, the trainers stood vigil at the entrance. While they walked in their triumphant march, a pedestal rose from the center of the arena. A man with a torch ran forward and up the stairs, lighting the flame to signify the official start of the world championship.

"Trainers," Mr. Goodshow said. "Best of luck to all of you."

Another round of applause and cheers. Head held high, Aiden marched out of the field. Alongside Ember, he lingered at the edge, waiting for Zora, Kylie, and Bruiser.

Kylie hugged all four of them. "See you all later. I have to figure out where Tyler ran off to. I'll see both of you at the party tonight. Right?"

Aiden made a noncommittal noise. Zora nudged him hard. "Of course we'll be there."

Kylie clapped her hands. "Great! Now I need to track down Tyler. See you all later."

Aiden watched her dart away and into the mob beyond. "You really think we should go?" he asked.

Zora eyed him. "Why not?"

"EE."

Zora went still. "How is she?" The question she directed at Ember.

Ember's tails shimmered. In the darkness of the tunnels, no one else would notice the brief psychic aura. Granted, ninetales did have natural psychic power, but the Warriors had injected Ember with the Third Typing. Unfortunately for them, it didn't sway Ember to their side. Quite the opposite, actually.

"She's afraid." Ember watched the three, eyes narrowing with concern. "We should return to the hotel."

"We should." Aiden turned his attention to Ember. "If it's okay to be returned to your pokéball your highest majesty."

Zora punched him. "Don't be an ass."

Ember bristled. Aiden kept his mouth shut, knowing full well he deserved the punch. He recalled Ember to her pokéball, both silent as stone.

Zora didn't budge. "Not even an apology."

Aiden hooked her pokéball back to his belt. "Nope."

He ignored Zora and Bruiser's words and marched off into the beautiful sunset. Neither of them understood. He loved Ember like he did all his friends and family but right now he couldn't help but foster a deep irritation toward the ninetales. Yes, it wasn't fair pokémon had to be in their pokéballs. Wasn't fair the restriction the league put on pokémon ever sense Sumnus and that god damned moltres unleashed their fury on several innocent villages and towns across Kalos and later Olivine City.

Gone were the delusions of the innocence and the inherent goodness of pokémon. Now such naïve infantilization were replaced with fears and worries of volatile pokémon on the loose. Aiden was certain the Warriors did that on purpose. How best to divide their enemies than make the gap between humans and pokémon even more apparent?

The three deranged, corrupted legendary birds at Olivine didn't help matters either. Well, two deranged ones. The moltres had willingly took the third typing, didn't need to be physically dominated and forcefully injected by Sumnus.

And after what they did to EE. "God damned hypno."

"What?"

He gave Zora an apologetic frown for his utterance. "Just think about what Sumnus caused in Olivine City."

"So you do believe they're still a threat?"

"Of course I do. But the league will handle them."

"You truly believe that?" She went still, hands on her hips.

"I don't want to talk about it. Come on. Let's get to the hotel."

The Warriors of Light and his deteriorating relationship with Ember were the last things he wanted to think about on this momentous day. Yet, they somehow managed to become the focal point. He sighed, stomping into the elevator as it ascended to his and Zora's rooms.

Once inside his room, he released Ember and Zora released Bruiser. Ember leaped to the far end of the main room, curling up on one of the two queen sized beds.

Zora, Ember, and Bruiser looked at him. Aiden knew their thoughts immediately. He unclipped the second of two pokéballs, pointing it at the small bed situated between the larger ones. "Go EE."

Out came the small trembling figure. A shiny eevee with the jaws, tail, and ears of an espeon, a constant trickle of blood ran from her eyes. Zora gave him a damp rag from the bathroom.

"It's okay. You're safe now," Aiden said, kneeling down to clean the blood from her eyes and the stains around her emerald-green ears.

EE stared up at him with eyes shimmering from tears. "It hurts."

Bruise gently pushed Aiden aside to gather EE into his arms. "I know little one." He cradled her and she peaked over his arms at Aiden and Zora.

Aiden sat on his bed. "I can't leave her alone."

EE squirmed and Bruiser set her down. She scampered over to Ember's bed and with a psychic pull, Ember lifted EE onto the bed beside her.

"I'll stay with EE," she said. "You can go."

Aiden shifted on the bed to watch her. "Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure. Go. Have fun."

"Ember…"

"Someone needs to watch EE." He opened his mouth but Ember silenced him with a raised paw. "Trust me, I don't mind. I'll be alright."

Aiden hesitated but didn't argue. Zora stood and picked up EE and cuddled her. "Well, I should return Bruiser and retrieve Blade."

"Not you either?" Aiden said, addressing the nidoking.

Bruiser shook his head. "Nah. I promised Blade he could go. Besides, I need to train."

Zora gave an amused huff. "He's afraid Goliath is still stronger than him."

Bruise looked affronted. "I am not."

"Uh-huh." Zora patted his shoulder. "Well come on. Let's go."

She set EE on Ember's bed. With a surprise show of strength, EE leapt across the divide and landed beside Aiden. The trickle of blood from her eyes turned to a small stream and Aiden grabbed the rag to clean her.

"I'll see you in a couple hours," Aiden said, winking at Zora as she and Bruiser departed for her room. Ember gave him a knowing grin.

"What?" he asked, not quite meaning the snap in her voice.

"Nothing." Ember stood. "I'm getting some food. Do you want some?"

He shook his head, his heart heavy as he watched her rummage through their bags.